Four other members who include the couple’s 23-year-old
daughter and three grandchildren aged between seven and 10 years escaped unhurt
following the incident that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
All household property comprising two beds, three
wardrobes, a tv set, sofas, a generator, kitchen unit, decoders, clothes,
foodstuffs, cellphone handsets, identity documents and various other items as
well as US$1 000 cash was burnt.
The suspect Kholwani Donga who is in police custody after
being arrested on Tuesday, reportedly accused his grandfather Mr Robert Donga
(75) and grandmother Ms Angela Mpala (52) of being responsible for his father’s
death.
Donga claims his grandparents bewitched his father leading
to his death last month. Sources close to the happenings told Chronicle that
Donga started having problems with his grandparents last week after consulting
a tsikamutanda who told him that they bewitched his father.
He allegedly attempted to kill them last week on Thursday
when he torched a two-roomed house but there was no one inside.
Donga allegedly made a second attempt on Friday and burnt a
kitchen hut. Seeing that his two attempts had missed the targets, Donga allegedly
armed himself with petrol around 1AM on Tuesday and doused the three roomed
house where Mr Donga, Ms Mpala, their daughter Ms Ayanda Donga and her daughter
Bandile aged eight as well as two other grandchildren Buhle and Andile aged 10
and seven were sleeping.
A domestic worker Praymore Sibanda aged 19 who was
seriously burnt, was also sleeping in the sitting room.
The family had shifted all the property into the
three-roomed house following last week’s fire incidents, unbeknown to them that
Donga was not yet done.
Ms Donga said her father and Praymore were severely burnt
and were transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital from St Luke’s Hospital in
Lupane.
“We were all asleep when I heard a loud bang and my mother
screaming and I discovered that the house was on fire,” said Ms Donga in a
telephone interview. She said she quickly jumped out through the window and
started rescuing others.
“I think he poured petrol in all the rooms. The fire
started from the main bedroom where my parents were sleeping. I pulled the
three girls out and that is when I saw him (the suspect) and I called him by
his name asking why he had chosen to kill his own grandfather. He charged at me
and tried to strangle me and he let go when my child screamed.
I rushed inside to rescue my parents and when I tried to
pull my father, his skin was peeling off because he had been seriously burnt.
My father had sold three beasts and all the money was burnt, nothing was
salvaged,” said Ms Donga.
Lupane District Development Coordinator Mrs Ennerty Sithole
who chairs the local Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said an appeal for help has
been made. “We visited the family as CPU and have made an appeal to various
stakeholders and some have started sending donations. The family remained with
nothing and desperately needs food, building material, clothes, blankets and
assistance with medical bills,” she said. Chief Mabhikwa of Lupane said the
community was shocked by the incident.
“There are some reports coming through that the suspect
accused his grandparents of witchcraft. This is a painful incident and sad
chapter in our community because the family has lost everything while some are
battling for life.
“We encourage people to solve disputes amicably without
resorting to violence. This is not the right time to be running around because
of the Covid-19 pandemic and we are grateful to those that have assisted so
far,” he said.
Police could not readily comment on the matter. Donga is
expected to appear in court soon. Chronicle
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